Karim: We owe it to voters to challenge the Brussels elite

British MEP Sajjad Karim will this week tell MEPs they owe
it to European voters to reject the usual back-room "stitch-up" by
backing him to become President of the European Parliament.

The Conservative MEP for North West England believes voters,
having made such a forceful call for change in the European elections
just a few weeks ago, will simply not understand if the response from Brussels
should simply be more of the same.

He said: "The two main political groups in
parliament believe there is nothing seriously wrong with the way Europe is run
or the direction the EU is headed. The Liberal group has also backed their
carve- up.

"By contrast, we believe there is a profound and urgent need for more
openness, more clarity and more accountability to the public. So do the voters
of Europe, if only the Brussels elite would listen...and the election of the
Parliament's President is a prime example"

For decades the President of the EP has been decided by its
two biggest groups the Socialist and Democrats, and European People's party.
They have used their in-built majority to run a system of "Buggin's
turn" in which behind-closed-door deals pass the presidency back and forth
between their parties. This year their candidate is the current EP
president, Socialist Martin Schulz, after he missed out on his preferred
options of becoming President of the Commission or landing some other senior
Commissioner office.

Sajjad said: "I am standing because I believe it is
time to challenge this cosy carve-up. The current system is disreputable
and arrogant. It treats Europe's voters and individual MEPs with equal contempt
and tells them all they can do what they like – the outcome will be the same.
This is exactly why the EU and its elite are held in such low regard by the
public right now."

In a direct appeal to MEPs, Sajjad will say:
"Regrettably our election for President resembles a coronation not a
contest.

"Rather than ignore the lessons of the election as an
inconvenience standing in the way of business as usual, we must grasp the
opportunity to show that the European Union can change. That is why I have
accepted the nomination of the ECR Group to be their candidate for President
and why I appear before you today to convince you that you have a choice."

In a speech that recalls his own upbringing in East
Lancashire as the son of a Pakistani immigrant bus conductor, he will
say: " This Parliament must mirror the values of our European people: openness,
tolerance, diveristy, equality and opportunity for all. These very values have
also been a consistent theme of my work, and will be important as we grow as an
institution over the next term.

Calling for an end to the "travelling
circus" of parliamentary meetings in both Brussels and Strasbourg, he has
already told MEPs: " Voters have struggled to engage with a Parliament
that is distant and often portrayed as wasteful. We cannot allow another
election cycle to pass without addressing the question of the seat of the
Parliament; I believe it's time that this issue will be raised with the
European Council, as voted for last term.

"We must improve our Parliamentary procedures to
encourage participation and debate, allowing the electorate to engage with the
issues under discussion. Too often I look out across an empty plenary chamber,
talking to the few and debating with no-one. It's time we had a chamber that
holds a debate, not a series of one-minute press statements.

"The office of President is not a political loudhailer,
allowing the holder to promote their agenda. It is not a post of
self-aggrandisement, for building careers and seeking higher office. It is a
responsible post for a responsible politician.

"Our Parliament deserves better than to be third
choice, a consolation prize for candidates who felt destined for bigger things.
The choice remains with you though, as Members you are empowered, not your
party machines.

"My campaign is about making that choice and seizing
the opportunity: a chance to show that the EU can change; that it can bring
together the diverse range of political opinions and personal experiences as a
strength of this Parliament, and that, above all, we can unite behind a
candidate for President who respects the office and respects all MEPs."